END7 just surpassed the $1,000,000 mark in funds raised to fight neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), with more than 25,000 donations since the launch of the campaign. These contributions support efforts by national ministries of health to build sustainable NTD programs based within endemic countries.
Projects funded by END7 have given the gift of good health to millions of people in twelve countries, training local health workers and volunteers, transporting and administering donated medicines, providing clean water and educating communities on safe hygiene habits to avoid infection. END7 is a campaign of the Sabin Vaccine Institute to end the seven most common NTDs. Sabin’s mission is to end unnecessary suffering from preventable diseases. 100 percent of END7 donations go directly to partners in endemic countries to extend NTD programs and fill funding gaps.
Your donations helped Kenya’s Ministry of Health keep children like Neema worm-free and in school. They helped Helen Keller International provide medication for and his family so he could return to work and care for his young son. They made sure Pwint Yamone Thin and millions of other children in Myanmar could continue to grow, learn and reach their full potential.
Saleimatu Kabia, 4, holds a sign reading “Thank you END7″ at the Tombo community health center in the town of Tombo, Sierra Leone on Tuesday July 17, 2012.
Reaching one million dollars is an incredible milestone, but our work isn’t finished yet. More than one billion people still suffer from the seven most common NTDs even though these diseases are preventable with treatment, education and sanitation. Elephantiasis, river blindness, schistosomiasis, trachoma, roundworm, whipworm and hookworm prevent communities from thriving. We can break this cycle of poverty – but not without you. We need your if we are to see the end of NTDs.
Follow along this month as we tell stories of to learn how you can build on this momentum and toward a healthy, NTD-free world.